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SP's Aviation - ISSUE No 02-08

Issue Features

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  Business Aviation: Sense & Savings
  By Alan Peaford, London

  As global travel becomes increasingly tedious with all the hassles posed by elaborate security checks and airport transfers, the business jet has emerged a far more attractive option.

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  Top Story - The Trans-Atlantic Tanker War
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey, Bangalore

  EADS bagging the US Air Force’s $40 billion deal for Flight Refuelling Aircraft has raised a storm of protest and miffed Boeing IDS. But shutting out the din and brouhaha brings forth a clearer picture of sound logic.

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  Upgrades - Defying Constraints
  By Air Marshal (Retd) P.K. Mehra

  It would be prudent to integrate weapons from both eastern and western origin when upgrading all IAF fighter fleets.

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  Industry Face To Face - President of Elettronica S.p.A.
  

  Elettronica ready to transfer technology of high-end EW systems.

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  Training - Hawks Arrive in India
  By Our Special Correspondent, Bidar

  Induction of the Hawk 132 heralds a new era in the IAF’s flying training history and the ceremony was conducted to martial tunes composed especially for the momentous occasion.

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  US Official Visit - Hope & Caution
  

  Goodwill punctuated by optimism towards removing hurdles to consolidate long-term relations marked US Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates’ maiden two-day visit to India in February.

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  Singapore Airshow ’08 - Split to SIZE
  By Phil Nasskau, Singapore

  The new purpose built venue next to Changi Airport is good, secure and an excellent stage for aircraft display. Unfortunately, not that many were on display, but those that were, made for an impressive backdrop to the activities.

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  Defexpo ’08 - Lavish Spread
  By SP’s Team

  Spanning the expansive, sunlit venue at Pragati Maidan, over 30 countries showcased the best in land and naval systems at Defexpo India 2008.

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  Hanna Reitsch (1912 – 1979)
  By Group Captain (Retd) Joseph Noronha, Goa

  On one memorable occasion, while flying a top secret German rocket plane, the Me-163B Komet, the landing gear failed. Rather than abandon the expensive aircraft, Hanna Reitsch decided to land it, and nearly lost her life.

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  A Word from Editor
  By Jayant Baranwal - Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

  Defence allocation in the Budget has come as a dampener for Indian armed forces even as the share set aside for civil aviation somewhat reflected the sector’s dynamic growth. That, and high drama over a defence deal in the US makes for an engaging read.

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  Paramount expansion a pipe dream?
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  Chennai-based regional carrier Paramount Airways plans to start international operations by 2011. Managing Director M. Thiagarajan declared: As soon as we finish five years of operations in 2010, we plan to start international operations. Paramount Airways initially hopes to explore direct flight operations to select destinations on the lucrative European and US sectors.

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  Many twists to US spy satellite tale
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  On February 21, 2008, a missile launched from a US Navy cruiser soared 240 km above the Pacific and smashed a dying and potentially deadly US spy satellite, the Pentagon said. Several defence officials claimed it had apparently achieved the primary aim of destroying an onboard tank of toxic fuel.

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  Confusion Galore
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  In the aftermath of the official termination of India’s quarter-of-a-century-old Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) in December 2007, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is reportedly focusing on the development of Astra air-to-air missile systems.

• Superficial vs Substantial
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  The MoD has to some extent addressed the concerns of the IAF even as allocations for civil aviation maintain last year’s momentum.

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  Little to Cheer
  By Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia

  While India’s defence budget has slid to an alarming figure of less than 2 per cent of the GDP, its neighbours Pakistan and China continue to spend between 4 to 6 per cent of their respective GDPs on defence.

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  Expertspeak - Budget
  

  In real terms, the defence budget may have remained static or even declined Admiral (Retd) Arun Prakash. AS EXPECTED, the defence budget for FY 2008-09 crossed the landmark figure of Rs 1 lakh crore after the FM factored in an escalation of about 10 per cent over last year’s estimates.

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  BIAL: Protracted Delivery
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  Commissioning of Bangalore’s international airport has acquired political overtones with the UPA and the NDA in a silent tug-of-war for mileage. A world class international airport for the Silicon Valley of India was officially conceived in 1991. Initially, the airport was to be located on Mysore road some 30 km from Bangalore.